2 Chronicles 6

1 THEN said Solomon, The Lord hath said that he would dwell in the thick darkness.

USolomoni wasesithi, “UThixo usetshilo ukuthi uzahlala eyezini elimnyama,

2 But I have built an house of habitation for thee, and a place for thy dwelling for ever.

sengikwakhele ithempeli elimangalisayo, indawo yakho ozahlala kuyo kuze kube nininini.”

3 And the king turned his face, and blessed the whole congregation of Israel: and all the congregation of Israel stood.

Ibandla lonke lako-Israyeli lisemi khonapho, inkosi yaphenduka yababusisa.

4 And he said, Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, who hath with his hands fulfilled that which he spake with his mouth to my father David, saying,

Yasisithi: “Kadunyiswe uThixo, uNkulunkulu ka-Israyeli, yena osegcwalise ngezandla zakhe ayekuthembise ubaba uDavida ngomlomo wakhe. Ngoba wathi,

5 Since the day that I brought forth my people out of the land of Egypt I chose no city among all the tribes of Israel to build an house in, that my name might be there; neither chose I any man to be a ruler over my people Israel:

‘Kusukela ngelanga engakhupha ngalo abantu bami eGibhithe, akuladolobho engalikhethayo laloba kusiphi isizwana sako-Israyeli, ukuba iBizo lami lakhelwe ithempeli khona, njalo angikhethanga loba ngubani ukuba abe ngumkhokheli wabantu bami bako-Israyeli.

6 But I have chosen Jerusalem, that my name might be there; and have chosen David to be over my people Israel.

Kodwa khathesi sengikhethe iJerusalema ukuba iBizo lami libe khonale, njalo sengikhethe uDavida ukuba abuse abantu bami bako-Israyeli.’

7 Now it was in the heart of David my father to build an house for the name of the Lord God of Israel.

Ubaba uDavida wayetshiseka enhliziyweni yakhe ukuba akhele iBizo likaThixo ithempeli, uNkulunkulu ka-Israyeli.

8 But the Lord said to David my father, Forasmuch as it was in thine heart to build an house for my name, thou didst well in that it was in thine heart:

Kodwa uThixo wathi kubaba uDavida, ‘Wenza kuhle ngokuba lesifiso sokungakhela ithempeli leBizo lami enhliziyweni yakho.

9 Notwithstanding thou shalt not build the house; but thy son which shall come forth out of thy loins, he shall build the house for my name.

Lanxa kunjalo, kayisuwe ozakwakha ithempeli, kodwa indodana yakho eyinyama yakho legazi lakho, yiyo ezakwakhela iBizo lami ithempeli.’

10 The Lord therefore hath performed his word that he hath spoken: for I am risen up in the room of David my father, and am set on the throne of Israel, as the Lord promised, and have built the house for the name of the Lord God of Israel.

UThixo usigcinile isithembiso asenzayo. Sengiyinkosi esikhundleni sikababa uDavida njalo khathesi sengihlezi esihlalweni sobukhosi sika-Israyeli njengokuthembisa kukaThixo, njalo sengakhele iBizo likaThixo, uNkulunkulu ka-Israyeli ithempeli.

11 And in it have I put the ark, wherein is the covenant of the Lord, that he made with the children of Israel.

Kulapho engibeke khona ibhokisi, phakathi kwalo kulesivumelwano sikaThixo asenza labantu bako-Israyeli.”

12 And he stood before the altar of the Lord in the presence of all the congregation of Israel, and spread forth his hands:

USolomoni wasesima phambi kwe-alithari likaThixo phambi kwalo lonke ibandla lako-Israyeli welula izandla zakhe.

13 For Solomon had made a brasen scaffold, of five cubits long, and five cubits broad, and three cubits high, and had set it in the midst of the court: and upon it he stood, and kneeled down upon his knees before all the congregation of Israel, and spread forth his hands toward heaven,

Wayenze isitubhu sethusi, ubude baso buzingalo ezinhlanu, lobubanzi baso buzingalo ezinhlanu njalo buzingalo ezintathu ukuyaphezulu, sona wayesimise phakathi laphakathi kweguma elingaphandle. Wema phezu kwesitubhu waseguqa phambi kwalo lonke ibandla lako-Israyeli waphakamisela izandla zakhe ezulwini.

14 And said, O Lord God of Israel, there is no God like thee in the heaven, nor in the earth; which keepest covenant, and shewest mercy unto thy servants, that walk before thee with all their hearts:

Wasesithi: “Oh Thixo Nkulunkulu ka-Israyeli, kakho uNkulunkulu ofanana lawe ezulwini lasemhlabeni, wena ogcina isivumelwano sakho sothando lezinceku zakho eziqhubeka endleleni yakho ngezinhliziyo ezipheleleyo.

15 Thou which hast kept with thy servant David my father that which thou hast promised him; and spakest with thy mouth, and hast fulfilled it with thine hand, as it is this day.

Usigcinile isithembiso sakho encekwini yakho uDavida ongubaba; ngomlomo wakho uthembisile njalo ngesandla sakho ukugcwalisile lokho njengoba kunjalo lamuhla.

16 Now therefore, O Lord God of Israel, keep with thy servant David my father that which thou hast promised him, saying, There shall not fail thee a man in my sight to sit upon the throne of Israel; yet so that thy children take heed to their way to walk in my law, as thou hast walked before me.

Ngakho Thixo, Nkulunkulu ka-Israyeli, gcinela inceku yakho uDavida ubaba isithembiso owasenza kuye usithi, ‘Kawuyikuswela umuntu ozakuma phambi kwami esihlalweni sobukhosi buka-Israyeli, nxa amadodana akho ezahamba ngokomthetho wami phambi kwami, njengalokhu okwenzileyo wena.’

17 Now then, O Lord God of Israel, let thy word be verified, which thou hast spoken unto thy servant David.

Ngakho khathesi, Thixo, Nkulunkulu ka-Israyeli, kaligcwaliseke ilizwi lesithembiso owalikhuluma kuDavida inceku yakho.

18 But will God in very deed dwell with men on the earth? behold, heaven and the heaven of heavens cannot contain thee; how much less this house which I have built!

Kambe uNkulunkulu uzahlala labantu emhlabeni na? Amazulu, kanye lamazulu aphezulu kakhulu, kawakulingani. Pho lisilela kanganani lelithempeli engilakhileyo!

19 Have respect therefore to the prayer of thy servant, and to his supplication, O Lord my God, to hearken unto the cry and the prayer which thy servant prayeth before thee:

Kodwa-ke akuzwe umkhuleko wenceku yakho lokucela kwayo umusa, Oh Thixo Nkulunkulu wami. Zwana ukukhala lokukhuleka kwenceku yakho phambi kwakho.

20 That thine eyes may be open upon this house day and night, upon the place whereof thou hast said that thou wouldest put thy name there; to hearken unto the prayer which thy servant prayeth toward this place.

Ebusuku lemini amehlo akho kakhangele lindlu, yona eyindawo owathi iBizo lakho lizakuba kuyo. Akuzwe umkhuleko wenceku yakho ngalindawo.

21 Hearken therefore unto the supplications of thy servant, and of thy people Israel, which they shall make toward this place: hear thou from thy dwelling place, even from heaven; and when thou hearest, forgive.

Akulalele ukucela kwenceku yakho lokwabantu bakho bako-Israyeli nxa bekhuleka bekhangele kule indawo. Akuzwe ezulwini, lona eliyindawo yakho yokuhlala; ukuze uthi ungezwa, uthethelele.

22 If a man sin against his neighbour, and an oath be laid upon him to make him swear, and the oath come before thine altar in this house;

Nxa umuntu angonela umakhelwane wakhe, afungiswe, abesefunga isifungo phambi kwe-alithari lakho kulelithempeli,

23 Then hear thou from heaven, and do, and judge thy servants, by requiting the wicked, by recompensing his way upon his own head; and by justifying the righteous, by giving him according to his righteousness.

zwana usezulwini, uthethelele. Zahlulele izinceku zakho, uyigwebe leyo elecala ngalokho ekwenzileyo, njalo uyidedele engonanga uyiphe umvuzo ofanele ukuba msulwa kwayo.

24 And if thy people Israel be put to the worse before the enemy, because they have sinned against thee; and shall return and confess thy name, and pray and make supplication before thee in this house;

Kuthi lapho abantu bakho bako-Israyeli behlulwe yizitha ngoba bonile kuwe, akuthi lapho bephenduka befakaza ibizo lakho, bekhuleka njalo becela phambi kwakho kulelithempeli,

25 Then hear thou from the heavens, and forgive the sin of thy people Israel, and bring them again unto the land which thou gavest to them and to their fathers.

zwana usezulwini uthethelele izono zabantu bakho bako-Israyeli ubabuyisele elizweni owabapha lona kanye laboyise.

26 When the heaven is shut up, and there is no rain, because they have sinned against thee; yet if they pray toward this place, and confess thy name, and turn from their sin, when thou dost afflict them;

Akuthi nxa emazulwini kuvalekile lingasani izulu ngoba abantu bakho bonile kuwe, njalo bathi nxa bekhuleka bekhangele kulindawo befakaza ibizo lakho betshiya izono zabo ngoba ubajezisile,

27 Then hear thou from heaven, and forgive the sin of thy servants, and of thy people Israel, when thou hast taught them the good way, wherein they should walk; and send rain upon thy land, which thou hast given unto thy people for an inheritance.

zwana usezulwini uthethelele izono zenceku zakho, abantu bakho u-Israyeli. Bafundise indlela eqondileyo yokuphila uthumele izulu elizweni owalinika abantu bakho ukuba libe yilifa labo.

28 If there be dearth in the land, if there be pestilence, if there be blasting, or mildew, locusts, or caterpillers; if their enemies besiege them in the cities of their land; whatsoever sore or whatsoever sickness there be:

Nxa kufika indlala loba isifo elizweni, loba ingumane loba isikhwekhwe, intethe loba isikhongwane, loba izitha zibavimbezela loba kukuyiphi imizi yabo, loba kufika incithakalo kumbe umkhuhlane bani,

29 Then what prayer or what supplication soever shall be made of any man, or of all thy people Israel, when every one shall know his own sore and his own grief, and shall spread forth his hands in this house:

kuthi lanxa umkhuleko kumbe isicelo sisenziwa ngomunye wabantu bakho bako-Israyeli, ngulowo lalowo ebona inhlupheko lezinsizi zakhe njalo ephakamisela izandla zakhe kulelithempeli,

30 Then hear thou from heaven thy dwelling place, and forgive, and render unto every man according unto all his ways, whose heart thou knowest; (for thou only knowest the hearts of the children of men: )

lalela usezulwini, okuyindawo yakho yokuhlala. Thethelela, wenzele umuntu munye ngamunye lokho okuhambelana lezenzo zakhe, ngoba wena uyazazi inhliziyo zabo (futhi nguwe wedwa owazi inhliziyo zabantu),

31 That they may fear thee, to walk in thy ways, so long as they live in the land which thou gavest unto our fathers.

ukuze bakwesabe bahambe ezindleleni zakho besaphila elizweni owalipha okhokho bethu.

32 Moreover concerning the stranger, which is not of thy people Israel, but is come from a far country for thy great name’s sake, and thy mighty hand, and thy stretched out arm; if they come and pray in this house;

Akuthi owezizweni ongasuye omunye wabantu bakho bako-Israyeli kodwa evela elizweni elikhatshana ngenxa yodumo lwebizo lakho lesandla sakho esilamandla lengalo yakho elulekileyo, nxa esiza ekhuleka ekhangele kulelithempeli,

33 Then hear thou from the heavens, even from thy dwelling place, and do according to all that the stranger calleth to thee for; that all people of the earth may know thy name, and fear thee, as doth thy people Israel, and may know that this house which I have built is called by thy name.

umuzwe usezulwini, lona eliyindawo yakho yokuhlala, umenzele owezizweni loba kuyini akucela kuwe, ukuze kuthi abantu bonke emhlabeni balazi ibizo lakho bakwesabe, njengalokhu abantu bakho bako-Israyeli bekwenza, ukuze bazi ukuthi lindlu engiyakhileyo ngeyeBizo lakho.

34 If thy people go out to war against their enemies by the way that thou shalt send them, and they pray unto thee toward this city which thou hast chosen, and the house which I have built for thy name;

Nxa abantu bakho bephuma besiya empini ukuyakulwa lezitha zabo, loba kungaphi lapho obathuma khona, njalo kuthi nxa bekhuleka kuwe bekhangele lelidolobho olikhethileyo kanye lalelithempeli engilakhele iBizo lakho,

35 Then hear thou from the heavens their prayer and their supplication, and maintain their cause.

uzwe usezulwini imikhuleko yabo lokuncenga kwabo, ubamele wena.

36 If they sin against thee, (for there is no man which sinneth not, ) and thou be angry with them, and deliver them over before their enemies, and they carry them away captives unto a land far off or near;

Nxa bonile phambi kwakho, ngoba kakho ongoniyo njalo uze ubathukuthelele ubanikele ezitheni zabo ezibathumba zibase elizweni elikhatshana loba eliseduzane,

37 Yet if they bethink themselves in the land whither they are carried captive, and turn and pray unto thee in the land of their captivity, saying, We have sinned, we have done amiss, and have dealt wickedly;

kuthi nxa bengaguquka ezinhliziyweni zabo besemazweni abayabe bethunjelwe kuwo, baphenduke bakuncenge besemazweni abathunjelwa khona bathi, ‘Sonile, senza okungalunganga lokubi,’

38 If they return to thee with all their heart and with all their soul in the land of their captivity, whither they have carried them captives, and pray toward their land, which thou gavest unto their fathers, and toward the city which thou hast chosen, and toward the house which I have built for thy name:

loba nxa bephendukela kuwe ngezinhliziyo zabo zonke langemiphefumulo yabo elizweni njalo bekhuleka bekhangele elizweni owalinika oyise, edolobheni owalikhethayo lasethempelini engilakhele iBizo lakho;

39 Then hear thou from the heavens, even from thy dwelling place, their prayer and their supplications, and maintain their cause, and forgive thy people which have sinned against thee.

ngakho wena osezulwini, endaweni yakho yokuhlala, akuzwe imikhuleko yabo lokuncenga kwabo, ubamele. Njalo ubathethelele abantu bakho, bona abakoneleyo.

40 Now, my God, let, I beseech thee, thine eyes be open, and let thine ears be attent unto the prayer that is made in this place.

Ngakho-ke, Nkulunkulu wami sengathi amehlo akho angavuleka lezindlebe zakho zilalele imikhuleko eyenziwa kule indawo.

41 Now therefore arise, O Lord God, into thy resting place, thou, and the ark of thy strength: let thy priests, O Lord God, be clothed with salvation, and let thy saints rejoice in goodness.

Ngakho phakama, Oh Thixo Nkulunkulu,

42 O Lord God, turn not away the face of thine anointed: remember the mercies of David thy servant.

Oh Thixo Nkulunkulu, ungafulatheli ogcotshiweyo wakho.